Four-star Two MICHELIN Keys Koh Lanta, well south of Krabi, Krabi
Pimalai Resort & Spa
A hundred acres of forest running down to 900 metres of sand on Koh Lanta's Ba Kan Tiang Beach, with pool villas on the hill and a jetty of its own.
Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.
- MICHELIN
- Two Keys, every year since 2024
- Rooms
- 121 rooms, suites and villas
- Grounds
- About 100 acres, 900 m of beach
- From the airport
- Road to Baan Huahin pier, then boat
The hotel
Forest, beach and a jetty on Koh Lanta.
Pimalai sits on Ba Kan Tiang Beach, on Kantiang Bay, Koh Lanta, an island well south of Krabi town. The resort covers about a hundred acres of tropical forest, which falls to roughly 900 metres of sand on the Andaman Sea. Guests on the resort's transfer arrive by boat at its own jetty. Rak Talay grills seafood on that beach, and Seven Seas serves dinner with views over the water.
The MICHELIN inspectors praised the designers for staying out of the way: warm, contemporary and plainly Thai. Rooms and pavilion suites lie near the beach, and the private pool villas climb the hillside sixty to eighty metres above the water. The spa is built like a Thai village, in local materials. The guide has given Pimalai two Keys since its first Thai selection in 2024.
- Arrival by sea A free transfer from Krabi airport to Baan Huahin pier, then the resort's boat to its own jetty, about an hour in the dry season.
- The infinity pool A shared pool overlooking the sea, with a pool bar for lunch, cocktails and the view.
- Pimalai Spa Treatment rooms in the style of a Thai village, from royal Thai massage to oriental fusion treatments.
Rooms & suites
Near the sand or up the hill.
The resort is split in two: a Beachside Estate of rooms, suites and villas, and a Hillside Estate of private pool villas.
- Room Bayfront Deluxe Room 70 square metres with a large balcony and a bathtub looking out over the Andaman Sea.
- Suite Beachside Pavilion Suite 110 square metres for one bedroom or 160 for two, stepping straight onto the beach.
- Villa Hillside Oceanview Private Pool Villa One to three bedrooms and 204 to 422 square metres, 60 to 80 metres above the sea. The pools are unfenced and not suited to children under twelve.
Dining
Seafood on the beach, Thai by night.
Restaurants and bars as listed by the resort. Shown for information.
- Rak Talay Thai and international seafood On the beach, lunch and dinner
- Seven Seas Western, with a long wine list Dinner with views over the sea
- Spice N' Rice Southern Thai Dinner, with a Thai night buffet
- The Banyan Tree Poolside Café Salads, sandwiches, light mains Lunch by the pool
- Pimalai Heritage Bar Cocktails and afternoon tea Sunset views and live music on some evenings
Recognition
Awards and listings.
- Two MICHELIN Keys 2024, 2025 and 2026
- Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards 2026
- Wine Spectator 2025
Good to know
Before you go.
- Arrival Check-in from 1 pm, check-out by noon.
- Children Welcome, with free cots for under-threes and a kids' club. The hillside villa pools are unfenced and not suited to children under twelve.
- Pets Not accepted.
- Monsoon From May to October the boat crossing takes longer.
Getting there
Flying to Krabi.
Krabi International is the nearest airport for scheduled flights and private jets. The resort's free transfer drives about 50 minutes to Baan Huahin pier, then crosses by boat to the private jetty, about an hour from November to April. Trang airport is about 1.5 hours away and Phuket about three.
- Kuala Lumpur 1 h 10
- Bangkok 1 h 15
- Singapore 1 h 35
- Hong Kong 3 h 15
- Dubai 6 h 55 long-range jet
Questions
What guests ask first.
- How many MICHELIN Keys does Pimalai have?
- Two. Pimalai received two Keys in the first Thai selection in 2024 and holds them in the 2026 selection.
- How do you get to Pimalai from Krabi airport?
- By road to Baan Huahin pier, about 50 minutes, then by the resort's boat to its private jetty, about an hour between November and April. The round-trip transfer is free.
- Is Pimalai suitable for children?
- Yes, with a kids' club and free cots for babies. The hillside villa pools are unfenced, and the resort says they are not suited to children under twelve.
- Can SkyCourtage arrange the flight to Krabi?
- Yes. We arrange Business and First Class seats on scheduled airlines and private jet charter to Krabi, with one final price, our margin included. The hotel is booked with the hotel or through our booking partner.
Also in Krabi
Other hotels worth the trip.
- Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Three Keys for a beachfront of fifty-four pavilions and villa suites, each with its pool and its own butler.
- Banyan Tree Krabi Seventy-two suites and villas, every one with its own pool, within reach of the Hong Islands.
- Rayavadee Pavilions in gardens behind three white-sand beaches, under limestone cliffs, reached only from the sea.
Staying at Pimalai Resort & Spa?
Book the room, then the flight.
Rates and availability come from the hotel itself. For the journey to Krabi, a Business or First Class seat or an aircraft of your own: tell us the date and we come back with one final price, our margin included.
Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.